ARE SEED LEGAL FRAMEWORKS IN FAVOUR OF SMALLHOLDER FARMERS?

SEED STAKEHOLDERS’ DIALOGUE

The government of Tanzania has done recommendable efforts that led to the enactment of the Seed Act 2003 with its respective regulations. Although the regulations allow for smallholders’ farmers to produce seeds under Quality Declared Seeds (QDS) Systems, they deny smallholder farmers’ traditional and historical rights to multiply share and sell seeds. Despite all promotions and campaigns in favour of improved and modern seed varieties and the formal seeds systems in general, only a fraction of the seeds used by smallholder farmers are from the formal seeds systems. Seeds from agro companies are expensive that most smallholder farmers in rural areas whom majority is poor cannot afford to buy year after year. Thus, majority of smallholder farmers are depending on the use of seeds from informal seed systems. In Tanzania, 83% of smallholder farmers use seeds from the informal seed systems while the formal seed system supplies only 17% of the seeds by smallholder farmers (Agricultural Sample Census 2007/2008). With this, Tanzania Smallholder farmers produce an average of 95% of national food demand. Thus, there is a need of recognizing the relatively large potential of the informal seed system in the country and the need for encouraging, supporting and improving this system for income, food and nutrition security. In recognizing the harm to the farmers’ rights, seed and food sovereignty, timely access to quality seeds and at affordable price by smallholder farmers, PELUM Tanzania has organized a dialogue for the seed stakeholders to dialogue on seed legal frameworks in favour of smallholder farmers.

Provide seed stakeholders a platform to express their concerns and views on smallholder farmers’ rights to seeds.

Expected outputs

Increased awareness on importance of farmers’ seed rights and its contributions to seed sovereignty and food security.

Policy recommendations in favour of farmer managed seed system.

Dialogue Participants

Participants of the dialogue will be invited representatives from Non-Governmental Organizations (NGO), smallholder farmers, Local Government Authorities, Seed regulatory bodies, Ministry of Agriculture, and the media.

Date and Venue

The seed stakeholders dialogue will be held on Thursday July 12, 2018 at Morogoro Hotel in Morogoro Municipal Council.